News Picks : China increases its satellite surveillance network

Los Angeles Times: China added to its ever-growing network of surveillance technology with the launch last week of the Gaofen-2 satellite. Its predecessor, Gaofen-1, has been providing data on earthquakes, floods, and smog since it was launched more than a year ago, according to Chinese authorities. Besides its extensive satellite network, China may have as many as 30 million surveillance cameras operating—which amounts to one for every 43 people. Despite successes in locating fields of opium poppy and marijuana and uncovering smuggling routes at the North Korean border, China’s surveillance network has provoked criticism from citizens who feel their privacy is being invaded. Nevertheless, the system is not as advanced as those of some other countries, including the US.